Laboratory support



J 1933- E. L. HARRINGTON 1,893,799

LABORATORY SUPPORT Filed Nov. 21. 1930 27 m L. fizz/w ion ERTLE I. HARRINGTON, F SASKATOON,

SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINGIS LABGBJATORY SUPPORT Application filed November 21, 193

This invention relates to laboratory supports and has for its objects to produce a laboratory standard which may be stored in groups and occupy much l ss space than 5 heretofore, and to produce a standard having bases adapted to interengage one with the other, and hence be far more useful and adaptable in the bench setups in laboratory use, and to produce a standard capable of O nesting to allow a large number to be stored in a minimum of shelf space.

Previously the legs of laboratory standards have been set 120 apart, or a large flat plate has formed the base. Such forms cause many inconveniences, for the supports cannot be set close together or clamped or fastened into a rigid assembly without considerable difiiculty.

Again, when standards must be provided for whole class, the problem of storage is serious. The awkward shapes required a large amount of shelf space.

I have avoided these ditliculties by the design of a base of radically different appearance which requires a minimum amount of space upon either bench or shelf. 1*- has, too, the advantage that the bases may be fitted one into the other, thus allowing standards to be set close together upon the laboratory bench.

The invention will be made clearer by ref erence to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device; and

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate methods of arranging two or more such supports either in storage on the shelves or in use upon the laboratory bench;

Fig. 8 illustrates the preferred method by which the standard is held in the base; and

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate alternative methods of holding th standard and base in engagement.

in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the support, indicated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a base 11 and a standard 12. The base is generally A-shaped with two arms 13 and 14 converging at the apex 15, but has the bridge element 16 elevated above the greatest vertical extent of the arms 13 and 14. Pref- Serial No. 427,257.

era ly the bridge is composed of a horizontal section 1? having a central enlargement 18 and terminating in two downwardly turned arms 19 and 21 merging in the upper face of the arms 13 and 14.

I prefer to the standard 12 into the base 11 by forming a tapered bore 22 in the enlarged section 18 of the bridge 16, and tapering the end of the standard 12 to Alt rnatively, as shown in Fig. 9, the stand ard may be held in the base by a set screw or threaded as 10) preferably with a pipe thread.

To prevent the unevenness of the surface of the bench from causing insecure footing I prefer to form the small legs 26, 2'? and 28 upon the under surface of the arms 13 and The enlargements 29 and 31 at the ends of the arms 13 and 1 give a finished appearance to the base and provide stock enough to allow the insertion of levelling screws if such are desired. 'hey are so designed that t 1e increase in the thickness of the arm at its terminal is thrown wholly towards the outer boundary of the arm. A straight inner boundary of the arms is kept to allow the engagement and close nesting of the bases.

For the sake of pleasing appearance I much prefer to make the bridge cuved horizontally as shown. lVhen the bridge is made straight, a displeasing optical illusion, which causes the standard to appear to lean out of the vertical, may be seen at some angles of view. The curvature of the bridge prevents its occurrence.

The function of the raised bridge 16 is illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. The apex of the base may be slid under the bridge on the next base to allow nesting as shown. The function of the unobstructed inner margin is illustrated in Fig. 3 where two bases are shown engaged along the extent of the arms, and rigidly held by a clamp.

When Orsat or other gas washing apparatus is set up, it is particularly desirable to have a number of rigid supports in offset position. Fig. 4 illustrates the adaptability of the support to such a setup, and as shown in Fig. 3 it may be made absolutely rigid by clamping the adjacent legs together.

For fractionation, it is frequently desirable to have a number 03": flasks maintained in close proximity to each other. The various assemblies shown, (Figs. 5, (3 and 7) indi cate the adaptability of the new standard to such uses. Either the open or the closed ends of a base may be pushed under the b 'idge of a cooperating base, which gives far greater flexibility of arrangement and requires much less space in storage.

What I claim therefore, is:

1. A supporting base for laboratory apparatus comprising two arms meeting at an acute angle and a bridge bearing a socket for a standard joining the two arms at points intermediate their ends and positi ned throughout its length above the upper boundary of the arms, whereby a plurali y of said bases may nested with the portions of the legs forming the acute angle of one base extending beneath the bridge of an adjacent base.

2. In a laboratory support, two arms meet ing at an acute angle and a horizontally curved bridge connecting the arms at a poin intermediate their ends and located above the plane of their vertical ex ent, said bridge having its convexity directed toward the open ends of the arms whereby a plurality of said supports may be nested with said bridges spaced apart and said bridge hearing a socket to receive a standard.

3. A supporting base for laboratory apparatus comprising two arms converging toward one portion of said base and a bridge beari g a socket for a supporting standard joining the two arms, a portion of said bridge between said arms being positioned above the pper boundary of said arms whereby a plurality of said bases may be nested with a portion of one supporting base extending beneath the bridge of an adjacent base for supporting the standards of said bases adjacent to each other, sa d socket located a material distance inwardly from the extremities of said base whereby conventional testing apparatus supported in any position on said standard will be in stable equilibrium.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ERTLE L. HARRINGTON. 

